There is no “I” in team and no “we” in the broadcast booth.
Jason Kelce is still learning about the latter. The former Philadelphia Eagles center has been criticized this season for his use of the word “we” when referring to his old team. It’s a habit that Kelce’s ESPN colleague, Pat McAfee, jokingly pointed out during a “Monday Night Football” contest between the Eagles and Chicago Bears.
Kelce repeatedly used the pronoun during his halftime analysis, something he apologized for after McAfee pointed it out.
It’s a habit that ESPN is trying to break, according to ESPN producer Jeff Dufine.
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While it’s something that former players and coaches commonly do, the producer highlighted Kelce’s ability to pick up on the little things as a strength he brings to the booth.
“He sees the game really well,” Dufine said. “Just tell me what you’re seeing and we’ll support you the best way we can throughout the course of the game.”
Week 5: The mascot of the Arizona Cardinals, Big Red, performs before the game against the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
Week 5: New England Patriots cheerleaders perform during the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Gillette Stadium.
(David Butler II, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Week 5: San Francisco 49ers fans cheer as Brock Purdy #13 leaves the field after defeating the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on October 11, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.
(Steph Chambers, Getty Images)
Week 5: A Seattle Seahawks fan cheers during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on October 11, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.
(Steph Chambers, Getty Images)
Week 5: Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson does a Lambeau Leap after scoring a touchdown against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field. The Packers defeated the Bears, 31-7.
(Sarah Kloepping, Green Bay Press-Gazette)
Week 5: Fans look on from the stands during the game between the New York Giants and Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. The game ended in a 27-27 tie.
(Patrick Smith, Getty Images)
Week 5: The mascot of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jaxson de Ville, performs before the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The Jaguars won the game, 19-17.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Week 5: The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders perform before the “Thursday Night Football” game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on October 8, 2026 in Arlington, Texas.
(Ron Jenkins, Getty Images)
Week 5: Singer and songwriter Lainey Wilson dances with members of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders before the “Thursday Night Football” game between the Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium.
(Ron Jenkins, Getty Images)
Week 4: The San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush cheerleaders take the field before a game against the Denver Broncos at Levi’s Stadium.
(Darren Yamashita, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Week 4: Seattle Seahawks fans hold cutouts of quarterback Sam Darnold prior to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Lumen Field.
(Joe Nicholson, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Week 4: Houston Texans mascot Toro and Superfan pose for a photo prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium.
(Thomas Shea, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Week 4: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleaders perform before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Raymond James Stadium.
(Jonathan Dyer, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Week 4: A young fan of the Baltimore Ravens looks on before the start of the game against the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium.
(Tommy Gilligan, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Week 4: Washington Commanders mascot Major Tuddy holds a camera during the second quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England.
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Week 3: Denver Broncos cheerleaders perform during the “Sunday Night Football” game against the Los Angeles Rams at Empower Field at Mile High.
(Ron Chenoy, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Week 3: The Maracanã Stadium gets set to host the International Series game between the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Week 3: The Miami Dolphins cheerleaders perform during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Sam Navarro, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Week 3: Corgi dog competitions take place during halftime of the game between the Detroit Lions and New York Jets at Ford Field.
(Lon Horwedel, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Week 3: Sports mascots compete against pee-wee football players S during halftime of the game between the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Christine Tannous, IndyStar, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Week 3: A fan looks on during warmups prior to the game between the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio.
(Nick Cammett, Getty Images)
Week 2: Singer Taylor Swift watches the game between the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
(David Eulitt, Getty Images)
Week 2: The San Francisco 49ers cheerleaders perform during the game against the Miami Dolphins at Levi’s Stadium.
(Cary Edmondson, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Week 2: Denver Broncos mascot Thunder rides onto the field after a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field At Mile High.
(Justin Edmonds, Getty Images)
Week 2: A Miami Dolphins fan reacts during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium.
(Cary Edmondson, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Week 2: Arizona Cardinals cheerleaders perform during the game against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium.
(Joe Camporeale, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Week 2: Arizona Cardinals mascot Big Red poses for a photo prior to the game against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
Week 2: The Baltimore Ravens mascot performs prior to the game against New Orleans Saints at M&T Bank Stadium.
(Stephen Lew, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Week 2: Fans cheer prior to the game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High.
(Justin Edmonds, Getty Images)
Week 2: The Canadian and U.S. anthems are sung during a pregame ceremony before the “Thursday Night Football” game between Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills at new Highmark Stadium.
(Gregory Fisher, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Week 1: Kim Thayil of Soundgarden and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam perform during halftime of the 2026 NFL Kickoff Game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots at Lumen Field.
(Steph Chambers, Getty Images)
1 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 5: The mascot of the Arizona Cardinals, Big Red, performs before the game against the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
1 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 5: The mascot of the Arizona Cardinals, Big Red, performs before the game against the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
2 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 5: New England Patriots cheerleaders perform during the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Gillette Stadium.
(David Butler II, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
3 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 5: San Francisco 49ers fans cheer as Brock Purdy #13 leaves the field after defeating the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on October 11, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.
(Steph Chambers, Getty Images)
4 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 5: A Seattle Seahawks fan cheers during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on October 11, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.
(Steph Chambers, Getty Images)
5 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 5: Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson does a Lambeau Leap after scoring a touchdown against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field. The Packers defeated the Bears, 31-7.
(Sarah Kloepping, Green Bay Press-Gazette)
6 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 5: Fans look on from the stands during the game between the New York Giants and Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. The game ended in a 27-27 tie.
(Patrick Smith, Getty Images)
7 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 5: The mascot of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jaxson de Ville, performs before the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The Jaguars won the game, 19-17.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
8 / 37
NFL Week 5 highlights, standout performances and reactions
Week 5: The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders perform before the “Thursday Night Football” game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on October 8, 2026 in Arlington, Texas.
(Ron Jenkins, Getty Images)
9 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 5: Singer and songwriter Lainey Wilson dances with members of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders before the “Thursday Night Football” game between the Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium.
(Ron Jenkins, Getty Images)
10 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 4: The San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush cheerleaders take the field before a game against the Denver Broncos at Levi’s Stadium.
(Darren Yamashita, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
11 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 4: Seattle Seahawks fans hold cutouts of quarterback Sam Darnold prior to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Lumen Field.
(Joe Nicholson, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
12 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 4: Houston Texans mascot Toro and Superfan pose for a photo prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium.
(Thomas Shea, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
13 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 4: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleaders perform before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Raymond James Stadium.
(Jonathan Dyer, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
14 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 4: A young fan of the Baltimore Ravens looks on before the start of the game against the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium.
(Tommy Gilligan, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
15 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 4: Washington Commanders mascot Major Tuddy holds a camera during the second quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England.
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
16 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 3: Denver Broncos cheerleaders perform during the “Sunday Night Football” game against the Los Angeles Rams at Empower Field at Mile High.
(Ron Chenoy, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
17 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 3: The Maracanã Stadium gets set to host the International Series game between the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
18 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 3: The Miami Dolphins cheerleaders perform during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Hard Rock Stadium.
(Sam Navarro, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
19 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 3: Corgi dog competitions take place during halftime of the game between the Detroit Lions and New York Jets at Ford Field.
(Lon Horwedel, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
20 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 3: Sports mascots compete against pee-wee football players S during halftime of the game between the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Christine Tannous, IndyStar, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
21 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 3: A fan looks on during warmups prior to the game between the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio.
(Nick Cammett, Getty Images)
22 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 2: Singer Taylor Swift watches the game between the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
(David Eulitt, Getty Images)
23 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 2: The San Francisco 49ers cheerleaders perform during the game against the Miami Dolphins at Levi’s Stadium.
(Cary Edmondson, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
24 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 2: Denver Broncos mascot Thunder rides onto the field after a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field At Mile High.
(Justin Edmonds, Getty Images)
25 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 2: A Miami Dolphins fan reacts during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium.
(Cary Edmondson, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
26 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 2: Arizona Cardinals cheerleaders perform during the game against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium.
(Joe Camporeale, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
27 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 2: Arizona Cardinals mascot Big Red poses for a photo prior to the game against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
28 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 2: The Baltimore Ravens mascot performs prior to the game against New Orleans Saints at M&T Bank Stadium.
(Stephen Lew, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
29 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 2: Fans cheer prior to the game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High.
(Justin Edmonds, Getty Images)
30 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 2: The Canadian and U.S. anthems are sung during a pregame ceremony before the “Thursday Night Football” game between Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills at new Highmark Stadium.
(Gregory Fisher, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
31 / 37
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season
Week 1: Kim Thayil of Soundgarden and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam perform during halftime of the 2026 NFL Kickoff Game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots at Lumen Field.
(Steph Chambers, Getty Images)
Prior to the NFL’s first London game of the year in Week 4, Kelce had never worked a full game in the broadcast booth for the masses to hear. He did have a preseason trial run with Dave Pasch and Kurt Warner, but only as a test before graduating to the real deal.
Kelce has been with ESPN since he retired in 2024, serving primarily as an analyst on “Monday Night Countdown.”
The network has tried to use his personality and integrate him in other ways, including a late-night show at one point. It wasn’t until the 2026 season that the network put Kelce in the broadcast booth, giving him a chance to be on the mic for its newly acquired international game package on NFL Network.
As always, the reviews have been mixed with Kelce in the booth. Some have enjoyed his perspective as a player not far removed from his playing days.
Others appear to have some Kelce fatigue, whether that’s thanks to his commercials, podcast, brother, sister-in-law or sudden emergence in the broadcast booth is anyone’s guess.
At the very least, Kelce is still connected to the game in retirement. And “we” haven’t decided how to feel about it yet.
